The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced the closure of its Southern Africa regional bureau in Johannesburg, a decision driven by severe funding constraints at a time when the region faces its worst drought in four decades. The move, confirmed by WFP Global Executive Director Cindy McCain in an email to staff on Friday, threatens to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis affecting 26 million people across seven countries.
The closure comes in the wake of sweeping U.S. foreign aid cuts under the Trump administration, which have slashed over 90% of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contracts, totaling more than $58 billion in global assistance. The U.S., historically the WFP’s largest donor, contributed nearly half of the agency’s $9.7 billion budget last year, providing $4.5 billion in 2024 alone. With these funds now drastically reduced, the WFP is scrambling to maintain operations, forcing tough choices like shutting down its Johannesburg hub, which has been pivotal in coordinating drought relief efforts.
Southern Africa is reeling from an El Niño-induced drought that has devastated crops, slashed corn harvests by up to 70%, and left millions on the brink of starvation ahead of the May harvest. Countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, and Namibia have declared national drought disasters, with the WFP estimating that 7.2 million people urgently need food and cash assistance this month. The Johannesburg bureau, responsible for procuring over 60% of its food and services locally and managing responses from South Africa to the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been a linchpin in these efforts.
“We have reached the difficult decision to close WFP’s regional bureau for Southern Africa in Johannesburg,” McCain wrote. “Challenging times demand some difficult choices.” The agency plans to consolidate its Eastern and Southern Africa operations under its Nairobi bureau, a restructuring aimed at stretching limited resources. Regional spokesperson Tomson Phiri emphasized that country-level operations would not be disrupted, stating, “The goal is to direct maximum resources to our frontline teams.” However, he acknowledged the broader funding outlook has become “constrained” due to the U.S. cuts, though he declined to link the closure directly to Trump’s policies.
The timing of the shutdown has sparked alarm among humanitarian workers and local communities. The bureau’s 160 employees were blindsided by the decision, initially expecting a merger with Nairobi rather than a full closure. On February 27, WFP Deputy Carl Skau informed staff in Johannesburg of the abrupt change, with McCain’s email following a day later. Critics warn that this move could weaken the region’s ability to respond to the ongoing crisis, particularly as local economies rely on WFP’s procurement and aid distribution.
The U.S. aid cuts, part of an “America First” agenda, have reverberated globally, halting life-saving programs from HIV treatment in South Africa to water sanitation in conflict zones like eastern Congo. In Southern Africa, the WFP had appealed for $147 million to address immediate drought needs even before the cuts intensified the funding shortfall.
Analysts fear that the vacuum left by reduced Western aid could invite influence from other players, such as China, which has already expanded its presence in African infrastructure and resource projects.
As the WFP transitions responsibilities to Nairobi over the next year, McCain assured staff of the agency’s commitment to the region, with a dedicated team overseeing the process. Yet, for millions facing hunger amid the drought, the closure underscores a grim reality: international support is faltering at a moment of unprecedented need.
With food stocks dwindling and the harvest still months away, Southern Africa braces for a humanitarian challenge that may only deepen in the absence of robust aid.
